Reichmann Motivated By Memory Of .01 Gap

But that's all it took at last season's Class AAA state swim meet to give Heather Reichmann a second-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle.

Reichmann, a senior from King's who swims for Shorewood because the Shoreline private school doesn't offer the sport, finished in 24.08 seconds. Angela Belloni of Sammamish edged Reichmann in 24.07.

This year, both swimmers are back. Belloni, a senior who has won the event the past two seasons, hopes to defend her title. Reichmann is still looking for her first as the Class 3A state swim meet begins today at the King County Aquatic Center.

"I just want to go below 24," said Reichmann, whose best time in the 50 free this season is 24.22. "That's my goal."

But Reichmann has other things to worry about. Relay teams . . . and oh, yes, the 100 free, in which she placed second last season. Her time of 52.36 seconds was only 6/100 off the winning time.

Both times were personal records, but Reichmann wants more.

"I'm seeded first in both events for the second straight year, and I'm looking for a sweep . . ." she said.

Reichmann posted All-America times in each event at last week's Class 3A-2A district swim meet and seems in perfect form. She won the 100 free by nearly 4 1/2 seconds (53.48) and the 50 free by more than two seconds (24.29).

Last season, Reichmann won state championships in the winter and spring sport seasons, but fell short - 1/100 of a second - of a sweep of all three seasons.

WesCo 3A swimmers to watch

-- Courtney Ellis, last season's Class AAA 500 freestyle champion, won't defend her title at this fall's state meet. Ellis, a junior, has posted All-America consideration times in every event this season. Most recently, she swam All-America consideration times in the 100 breaststroke (1:0641) and 200 individual medley (2:07.86) to win both events at last week's district meet. Ellis is expected to swim on the Warriors' 200 and 400 free relays.

-- Edmonds-Woodway sisters Katie and Emily Weber, a senior, both qualified in the 200 free. Katie, a junior, also qualified in the 500 free. She swam state-qualifying times in the 200 IM, 100 fly, 200 free and 500 free during the season. Katie placed sixth in the 500 free last year.

-- Melissa Fallon, the two-time district champion in the 100 butterfly, qualified in the 100 fly and 200 IM.

WesCo 4A swimmers to watch

-- Eight swimmers and three relay teams from Snohomish qualified for state. Senior Angie Maciel, district champion in the 50 and 100 frees, qualified in both events and also swam a leg on the Panthers' district champion 200 free relay team, which posted an All-America time (1:44.73).

-- Emily Hutson, a junior at Marysville-Pilchuck, swam the state's fastest time in the 200 IM (2:10.33) at the district meet. She also qualified for state in the 100 breaststroke. Hutson placed third at state in the 100 breast last season and 15th in the 50 free.

-- Tomahawk senior Sarah Imholt qualified for state in the 100 butterfly, and will swim a leg on the team's state-bound 200 free relay.